Verification seismology

The CTBTO's seismic network consists of 170 seismometers in 76 countries. Around the clock, 50 of these seismometers feed information on seismic events (earthquakes or explosions) to the data centre in Vienna. The Swiss Seismological Service (SED) oversees one of these seismometers, the DAVOX station.

Verification means confirming whether or not something is true. Where major tremors are concerned, verification entails experts telling the authorities and general public whether detected phenomena are of natural origin or were caused by a nuclear explosion. Seismic verification thus involves differentiating between an earthquake and a nuclear explosion (typically an underground nuclear explosion) based on signals measured using a seismometer.

Construction of the DAVOX Station

January 2002 Building permit application for Dischmatal and Strelapass
March 2002 Decision in favour of the site in Dischmatal
April 2002 Building permit issued
June 2002 Construction work begins: concrete vault, pile foundation, telephone line
July 2002 Installation of technical devices; start of operation and data transmission to the SED in Zurich
August 2002 Installation of the satellite link to Vienna
Sept. 2002 CTBTO computer starts up and transmits data to Vienna
July 2003 Configuration of the last devices completed

 

Certification and Inauguration of the DAVOX Station

Inspectors from the CTBTO visited DAVOX on 14 and 15 July 2003 to verify the station's technical compliance with the Station Operations Manual (CTBT/WGB/TL-11/21, 9 January 2003).

On 22 August 2003, the DAVOX station was certified as the ninth of 120 auxiliary seismic stations comprising the International monitoring system (IMS). DAVOX was integrated into the IDC's operational network on 23 September 2003 and officially inaugurated on 2 October 2003.